Match-box.



PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

W. E. EDWARDS.

MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION rum) nn0.e,19oe.

MODEL.

E INVENTOR'.

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BY (M75 4 M Q01; 0b WOR -M PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. EDWARDS, OF IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

MATCH-B OX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

Application filed December 8,1906. Serial No. 346,837. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Irvington, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes; and do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention has reference, generally, to improvements in match-safes or boxes, such as are carried in the pocket; and, the invention relates, more particularly, to a novel construction of match-box designed to be used for carrying ordinary paper folders of safety-matches, having an igniting or abrading surface connected with the said folder, such as are commonly given away as advertisements by cigar, tobacco and other dealers.

This invention, therefore, has for its principal object to provide a neat and simply constructed matchsafe or box, of the general character stated; and, the invention has for its further object to provide a matchsafe or box having a receiving element or holder adapted to receive and hold or retain a folder of matches of the character above set forth, and at the same time expose the igniting or scratching surface of the folder, so that the matches may be applied thereto for ignition.

Another object of this invention is to provide a match-safe or box of the character above described, comprising two normally closed sections, and a springactuated holder for the folder of the matches, which, when the box-sections are opened, will move in engagement with one of said sections and hold them open, so that the matches are presented for use and may easily and quickly be removed, from the folder, and ignited upon the scratcher.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly mentioned will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

With the various objects of the present invention in view, the said invention consists, primarily, in the novel match-safe or box hereinafter set forth, and the invention consists, furthermore, in the various novel arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, all of which will be more fully described in the detailed description of the invention, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims which are appended to and form an essential part of the accompanying specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichz-- Figure 1 is a face view of a match-safe or boxembodying theprinciples of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a side edge-view of, the same, the match-safe or box being shown in its closed position inboth of the said views. Fig. 3 is a side view of the match-safe or box with its hinged body-sections held in their opened,

tail cross-section, taken on line G 6 in said Fig. looking in the direction of the arrow as; and Fig. 7. isa

detail horizontal section, taken on line 7-7 in said Fig. 4, and looking in the direction of the arrow y, said view being made on a slightly enlarged scale.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views, to represent corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings,

the reference character 1 indicates a complete matchsafe or box embodying the principles of the present invention, the same comprising a, pair of. pivotally connected and normally closed body-sections, one of which Iwill hereinafter term the case-section 2, and the other the lid or cover-section 3. The said case-section 2 and the lid or cover-section 3 are respectively provided with one or more tubular members or earsv l and 5, said tubular members 4: and 5 being adapted to dovetail together to form a hinge-barrel, and being operatively connected by means of alflat or torsional spring 6. The end tubular members of both the body or case-section and the lid, or cover-section are provided with a. pair of internally and oppositely placed wedge-shaped members or pins7 which are adapted to form wedge-shaped openings 8, into which the ends 9 of the torsional spring 6 are thrust and firmly held. The said torsional spring is adapted to hold the body or case-section and the cover or lid-section in their normally closed relation with each other, and it will be evident from an inspection of the drawings, that, when the box is opened the torsional-spring istwisted or distorted, being rigidly held at each end, and when the pressure is released, the said torsional spring tends to straighten, and assume its normal shape or relation,

shown in said Fig. 7 of the drawings. This action of the spring, as will be evident, brings the case or bodysection and the lid or cover-section in their normally, closed relation, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The said body or case-section and the cover or lid-section are each provided near one side thereof with fingerpieces 10 which assist in applying pressure to separate said sections when it is desired to open the box. The body or case-section may be furthermore provided Pivotally arranged within the body or case-section 2,

and near the front end thereof, is a receiving-element or holder 12, said receiving element or holder being adapted to receive and retain a paper-folder 13, with which are connected in the usual manner a number of safety-matches 14. This holder 12 comprises a frontplate 15, provided at each end with an inwardly bent portion or flange 16 adapted to form the sides of the said receiving-element or holder, said front plate being made in any desirable configuration or design, and be ing provided with suitable opening 17 through which the usual igniting or scratching surface of the paperfolder 13 is exposed, so that the safety matches can be applied thereto for igniting their heads. The said holder is also provided between its flanges 16 with a back-plate 18 of any desirable configuration or design, the same forming with the flanges 16 and the front plate 15 a pocket into which the'lower end,of the paperholder 13 is slipped and is held therein by frictional contact, as will be evident. The said receiving element or holder 12 is furthermore provided witha pair of perforated lugs or ears 19 which register with a pair of perforated lugs or ears 20 secured upon the body or case-section 2, a pintle 21 connecting the lugs 19 and 20 together to form a hinge, and a spiral spring 22 being mounted on the pintle 21, substantially as shown. This spring has one end 23 in engagement with the inner face of the case-section 2 and has its other end 24 in engagement with the rear face of the back-plate 18, so that the normal tendency will be to raise the receivingelement or holder 12 in an upward direction when the two sections 2 and 3 are opened, to present the folder 13 and its matches 14 contained therein for the removal of a match, all of which is illustrated more particularly in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings.

From an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen, that as soon as the cover-section is raised by the operator, the holder and the folder 13 will automatically spring into the raised positions shown, the upper edge-portion 25 of the card-board folder by its engagement with the inner face of said section 3 retaining the latter in its raised position.

From the foregoing description it will be evident, that the present invention provides a neat, convenient and simple construction of match-safe or box for carrying safety matches of the style above set forth, the same being adapted to be made of any metal or other suitable material and it may be of any desired surface configuration or design.

By the operator moving the folder 13 in the direction of the arrow z indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the cover-section 3 automatically closes down upon the case-section 2, the folder and its matches being incased in the box or case formed by the two closed sections 2 and 3, as will be clearly evident.

, I claim:

1. A match-box comprising a pair of hinged and normally closed body-sections, one of said sections forming the cover of said match-box, and a match-holding device pivotally connected with the box at or near the front end thereof and remote from the hinge-connection of the body-sections, said device being adapted to receive a book of matches, and spring into a raised position when said body-sections are brought into their open relation to bring the said book of matches in engagement with a portion of said coversection and hold the same open for the removal of a match.

2. A match-box comprising a pair of hinged and springcontrolled body-sections, said sections being normally held in their closed' relation, and one of the sections forming the cover of said match-box, and a spring-actuated matchholding device pivotally connected with the other bodysoction, at a point at or near the front end thereof and remote from the hinge-connection of said body-sections, said device being adapted to receive a book of matches, and spring into a raised position when said body-sections are brought into their open relation, to bring the said book of matches in engagement with a portion of said coversection and hold the same open for the removal of a match.

3. A match-box comprising a body or case-section and a cover-section pivotally connected therewith by means of a spring-hinge, and means adapted to hold a folder of matches, said means being pivotally connected with said body or case-section, at a point at or near the front of the body or case-section and remote from the hinge-connection between said body and cover-section, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A match-box comprising a body or case-section and acover-section pivotally connected therewith by means of a spring-hinge, and means adapted to hold a folder of matches, said means being pivotally connected with said body or case-section, at a point at or near the front of the body or case-section and remote from the hinge-connection between said body and cover-section, said means comprising a receiving element or holder connected to said body or case-section by means of a hinge, and means connected with said body or case-section and said receivingelement or holder adapted to tilt said receiving element or holder in an upward direction when the match-safe or box is opened, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. A match-box comprising a body or case-section and a cover-section pivotally connected therewith by means of a springhinge, and means adapted to hold a folder of matches, said means being pivotally connected with said body or case-section and remote from the hinge-connection between said body and cover-section, said means comprising a receiving element or holder connected to said body or case-section by means of a hinge, and means connected with said body or case-section and said receiving element or holder adapted to tilt said receiving element or holder in an upward direction when the match-safe or box is opened, said means consisting of a coiled spring mounted on the pintle of said hinge and adapted to engage operatively with the said body or case-section and said receiving element or holder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. A matchbox comprising a body or case-section and acover-section pivotally connected therewith, and a matchreceiving element also pivotally connected with said casesection, but at a point in said casesection directly oppo site the point of pivotal connection of the cover-section with the bodysection, and a spring-in engagement with a portion of said match-receiving element, all arranged, so that the coversection and the match-receiving element will move in directly opposite directions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. A match-box comprising a body or case-section and a cover-section pivotally connected therewith, and a matchreceiving element also pivotally connected with said case-section, but at a point in said case-section directly opposite the point of pivotal connection of the cover-section with the body-section, and a spring in engagement with a portion of said match-receiving element, all arranged, so that the cover-section and the match-receiving element will move in directly opposite directions, and a sprin in engagement with the cover-section, said spring exerting a closing pressure upon said cover-section, when open, into engagement with the matches in said receiving element to retain the parts in their open relation, sub- .stantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. A match-box comprising a body or case-section and a cover-section pivotally connected therewith by means of a spring-hinge, a pair of perforated lugs secured upon the interior of said body or ease section, at or near the front end thereof and remote from the hinge-connection of said body and cover-sections, a receivingelement or holder adapted to hold a folder of matches, a pair of perforated lugs on said receiving element or holder, adapted to register with the perforated'lugs of said body or case-section, a pintle adapted to operatively connect the said perforated lugs together to provide a hinge-connection between said receiving element or holder and said body or case section, and a spiral spring mounted on said pintle, adapted to engage with said receiving element or holder and said body or case-section to cause said receiving-element or holder to tilt upwardly when the cover-section is separated from the body or casesection, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

S). A match-box comprising a body or casesection and a cover-section pivotally connected therewith by means of a spring-hinge, a pair of perforated lugs secured upon the interior of said body or case-section, at or near the front end thereof and remote from the hinge-connection of said body and coversections, a receiving-element or holder adapted to hold a folder of matches, a pair of perforated lugs on said receiving element or holder, adapted to register with the perforated-lugs of said body or case-section, a pintle adapted to operatively connect the said perforated lugs together to provide a hinge-connection between said receiving element or holder and said body or case-section, and a spiral-spring mounted on said pintle, adapted to engage with said receiving element or holder and said body or case-section to cause said receiving-element or holder to tilt upwardly when the cover-section is separated from the body or case-section? said receiving element or holder, comprising a front-plate cut away to form an opening, adapted to expose the ignition or scratching surface of said folder of matches, an inwardly extending flange on each end of said front-plate adapted to form the sides of said receiving element or holder and a back-plate between said flanges, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. r

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of December, 1906.

WILLIAM E. EDWARDS. Witnesses:

FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, FREDERICK .TAMIsON. 

